Mr. Movie and a strange thread on Rotten Tomatoes

In addition to posting my reviews here, I am also a credentialed critic on Rotten Tomatoes. Last week's posting of my Toy Story 3 review got the most and strangest reaction of any review I've ever posted except for Ben Stein's pro-intelligent design of the universe theory, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

Another critic critiqued my review and commented on my comments. Here's what he said:

"One thing that we as 'critics' know is that shedding a tear at a film does not make it a good movie. Grow up."

My comment to the critic - if he's reading this - is it is so classless to openly criticize someone else's review. He could have written me personally and said, "Hey, guy, I really disagree and here's why." That's what my critic friends and I do regularly.

On the site, a few of them agreed with him but most didn't. The comment set off a series of responses from readers from all over the place ripping the guy for ripping me. At the time I pen this, the list of comments is 42 and some are multiple, including two comments from me.

When I checked my critic's site on Sunday, the negative comments about his personal trashing of Toy Story 3 numbered 299. The only other critic I could find that ripped the movie was out of New York and he had 738 knocks. By now those numbers have grown.

People love Toy Story 3 and loved the other two.

While I didn't cry at the third film and do agree with some detractors that it is a bit too mature for the little ones, it is an outstanding movie and I had to work hard to keep the tears from falling. Some of my critic friends couldn't. And people in the screening audience were bawling like babies.

And rightfully so. The end of that movie is one of the most beautifully written scenes I've ever seen. It has been decades since someone had the courage to be so maudlin and obvious in their manipulation of emotion. But it worked and it worked brilliantly and sent many of us back to memories of our own childhoods and our own toys and how much we loved them.

Did you cry at Toy Story 3? Is it a bit too heavy for kids?

Or is it as one of my defendants stated: "This may sound crass, but as far as Toy Story 3 not being suitable for kids, I say that's hypocritical bull****. I think it is more telling of the parents that they don't want to share a movie like this - one that is so moving and entertaining and emotionally honest about issues like love and loss and growing up - because discussing the aforementioned themes involves a little more active parenting than allowing the DVD player to be the babysitter for 90 minutes."

I agree with the guy about letting DVDs do the parenting but that's a topic for another day. So am I, as a critic, as my critical critic colleague pointed out, out of line to be so sentimental about a movie?

Are you?

Never miss a local story.

Sign up today for unlimited digital access to our website, apps, the digital newspaper and more.

About Gary Wolcott

Gary Wolcott's "Mr. Movie" column has appeared in the Tri-City Herald since 1992. The Tri-Cities native now lives in Portland, Ore., and watches about 200 movies each year. He believes movies are made to be seen on theater screens and that you should see them there, too. He also encourages questions and comment and loves movie debate.